 W.M. Alfred Metcalf Belt |
Three weeks after the forming of the grand lodge AF.&A.M. of Oregon John Elliott Deputy Grand Master on October 4th 1851 issued a dispensation for a lodge at Salem. To Alfred Metcalf Belt and others. It took a longer time for the dispensation to reach Salem and the lodge to get organized six weeks later on November 28th 1851 at which the first meeting of Salem lodge was held. This was attended by two members of the lodge, four who were accepted into membership by motion and vote at the second meeting December 20th 1851 and one visitor. The two members were Alfred Metcalf Belt as Worshipful Master, and Jes A Bennett as Senior Deacon. The four accepted into membership December 12th were, A. W. Ferguson as Senior Warden, J.W. Kalfus as Junior Warden and Secretary, John Howell as Treasurer, and A.B. Carter as Stewart and Tyler. The visitor were J.C. Avery, a member of Willamette Lodge No. 2, a farmer, merchant and founder of the town of Marysville the name of which was at his request later changed to Corvallis by the state legislature. Brother Avery visited the lodge again on January 14th and 23rd and February 20th 1852. He was first Secretary of Corvallis Oregon Lodge No. 14. | |
|
Alfred M Belt was a physician. His Past Master's Certificate and Demit from Weston Lodge No. 53 Booneville, Missouri are among the lodge records. He was born in Kentucky, July 23rd 1804, reared in Platte County, Missouri, in 1850, with his wife and six children joined an emigrant train for Oregon. Besides his general practice in and around Salem, he was a professor in the medical department of Willamette University. He was first Master of the lodge when the lodge was chartered. He became Treasurer for two years and again as Master in 1854 and 1859. He immediately became active in the Grand Lodge in 1852. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1853, Senior Grand Warden in 1854 and in 1855 as Deputy Grand Master, then in 1856 as Grand Master. From 1862 to 1864, he served as Grand Treasurer. He was active in his lodge until his death August 18th 1881. Information regarding A.W. Ferguson is meager. He was a carpenter contractor as we know. He took a contract to rebuild an entrance hall of the lodge building and that he bought considerable lumber and building supplies in 1854. He was Senior Warden while the lodge was under dispensation and was elected as Master at the time of chartering. He was an experienced Mason and a strong character. From November 28th 1851 of the first meeting to May 28th 1852 when there were 33 meetings of the lodge. Ferguson presided as Master at twenty five of the meetings. Alfred M. Belt was present at nineteen meetings and sat as Senior Warden. Belt, as the Master presided seven times during that period. Ferguson served the lodge as Master in 1852 and 1853. As Secretary in 1854, he was active in the Grand Lodge, also serving in 1853 as Junior Grand Warden in 1854 as Senior Grand Warden and in 1865 as Deputy Grand Master. In 1866 as Grand Master, and he was instrumental in 1856 informing Multnomah Chapter No. 1 R.A.M. Ferguson, Chapter No. 5 at Corvallis is named in his honor, he was in 1860, the first Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R. A. M. of Oregon, he was also active in the I.O.O.F. often appearing in Salem Lodge in the interest of the Odd Fellows while serving as Grand Master, Brother Ferguson was Senior Deacon of Wasco Lodge No. 15 in The Dalles, having dimitted from Salem Lodge No.4 in 1864. John Howell, first treasure of Salem lodge number 4, was born in 1787 in Tennessee. He had lived in North Carolina before coming to Oregon and farming was his vocation. He died in 1869. A.B. Carter was Stewart and Tyler, demitted from the Salem lodge in 1853 and later his name appears in the roster of Lodge No. 10 at Jacksonville and in No. 23 in Phoenix. Of the other two brethren, present at the first meeting November 28th 1851 very little is known J.W. Kalfus, the first Junior Warden and Secretary had a short career with the lodge when the lodge was three months old, he asked that Brother Belt and Ferguson, be required to give the Treasurer a note for $138.25 for money. ($138.25 in 1852 is worth $5,607.78 in 2024) They had used Lodge funds for lodge purposes, but without the consent of the lodge, so they gave the note and afterwards Brother J.W. Kalfus took a demit. At the first recorded meeting, the lodge was opened on the Entered Apprentice degree with no business appearing. The lodge was open on the Fellow Craft degree with no business appearing. The lodge was open on the Master Mason degree with two petitions for initiation which were read for Charles Bennett and D.R. S. Daley, who was a farmer and who was the first man raised in the new lodge. This occurred January 30th 1852. He Demitted in 1855 to assist in forming Laurel Lodge No. 13 in Roseburg. A committee consisting of Brothers Belt, Howell and Ferguson was appointed to draft bylaws. The model they used was a copy of the By Laws of Multnomah Lodge No. 84 in 1850. Lodge was closed, but if it had to be closed on each degree, the records do not say. The lodge was closed in Due Form and to meet again on the12th of December. Charles R Bennett before coming to Salem. Had been with Fremont in California. He discovered gold and reported it to Fermont, who advised silence on the subject as they were in Spanish territory. A few years later, while in the same area, he found gold again at Sutter's mill. Samples were brought into the town of Benicia California, where Charles R Bennett announced his discovery and the Gold rush was on in January 1848. He was fortunate personally and had quite a fortune. When he came to Salem, In 1850 Bennett built the Bennett House hotel in Salem, Oregon. He extended the property by building a High Street frontage to the eastern side in 1852 and it became the town's principal hotel. In the winter of 1852–1853, where the Masonic Temple stands today at State and High Streets. Bennett served as Company F, Oregon Mounted Volunteers, Bennett was killed in action at Walla Walla on the Touchet River in southeastern Washington, near Fort Wallula, in 1855 during the Yakima War. He was buried with Masonic honors by his lodge in the IOOF cemetery in Salem. His grave is marked with a monument inscribed with the square and compasses, an open Bible and the fact that he discovered gold in California. He had been raised February 10th 1852 and his being the first petition read in the lodge and he the second to be raised. |
||
 Schlussel and Cohen Building, the upper store of which was the first place of Salem Lodge No. 4 (November 28, 1851 to October 1852) the location now would be 890 North Liberty Street. |
 Rector Hall, the second story of which the second meeting place of Salem Lodge No. 4 (October 1852 to August 12, 1853) This is now 255 South Commercial Street. |
 McCornnack Building, Third floor of which was the meeting place for Salem Lodge No. 4 from December 7, 1900 to December 1912. This is now Miller's Department Store, corner of State and Liberty Streets. The wooden Awning over the sidewalk long ago was removed. The ramps shown from sidewalk to street are now concrete. |